Cecilio Waterman was the hero for Panama, which eliminated the United States 0-1 in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal. This goal, scored in stoppage time during the second half, celebrated a historic moment for his country while he embraced Thierry Henry, who was serving as a commentator during the broadcast of the match.

Cecilio Waterman's Goal to Eliminate the United States

"It was amazing, I was in 'shock,'" Henry said with a laugh during the Paramount+ broadcast, recalling how he was suddenly surrounded by Waterman and the rest of the Panamanian players in an atmosphere of total euphoria after the match ended.

"He told me, 'You're my idol, you're my idol.' It was unreal," added the legendary former French player, who admitted he never imagined being part of such a celebration without scoring the goal and without even being on the field as a player. "But that's what it meant to them. I saw it in their eyes because I was so close. It was like a trance. Thank God I understand Spanish when he said, 'You're my idol.' But it was special, wow," Henry said.

Henry, "An Inspiration" for Waterman

Later, Paramount+ invited Waterman to participate in the post-match broadcast, and the Panamanian forward embraced Henry again before explaining what had happened.

"The night before at the hotel, they asked me, 'Who was your idol as a kid?' And I said Henry because I always watched you play at Arsenal and then at Barcelona... You were an inspiration to me," Waterman detailed. "I scored the goal now, I saw you, and I had to go greet you. It just happened like that," he added, emphasizing that he hadn't planned the celebration.

The Panamanian forward also gave Henry his Panama jersey with the number 18, with the promise that the Frenchman would send him one of his own from Arsenal in return.

Henry, visibly moved, told Waterman that "it was the best goal celebration" he had ever seen in his life.

Panama Aims for the Final and to Make History

Finally, the Panamanian forward looked ahead with ambition to the final, which will be played this Sunday at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (USA), where Panama will face either Mexico or Canada.

"This is our third year competing, and we've always made it to the semifinals but never to the final. Now we want to take that step for Panama, which has been growing football-wise, and hopefully, we can achieve something for Central America, bring the trophy to Central America, and be the first country in Central America to do so," Waterman concluded.